March 21, 2007
Commentary on Photo Essay Experience
When we were first notified of the assignment, I had a hard time deciding what topic I should write about in my photo essay. At first, I thought that I could write about the Holocaust since there are several images from that event. However, as I began my research I realized that there were many pictures to choose from that tell several different aspects of the Holocaust that I would not be able to write a thorough story of this particular event in history with only five images. Therefore, I decided to write about the Great Depression and focus on the period when Herbert Hoover was president. In order to write my story I knew that I would need a picture of the president, which was easy to find. Since Hoover’s presidential library had restrictions on their photos I chose to use the pictures published in Wikipedia’s page on president Hoover. Read the rest of this entry »
Photo Essay ~ Hoover & The Great Depression
From 1929 up to the Second World War, Americans experienced what most consider the worst economic Depression in U.S. history. Many blame President Hoover for causing the shift from the Roaring Twenties⎯ an era of Jazz, flappers, new technologies, economic prosperity and Henry Ford’s Model T automobile ⎯to the period known as the Great Depression of the 1930s. Several photographs captured during that period demonstrate the agony and despair that Americans experienced from the onset of Hoover’s presidency up to the presidential election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Although the depression and Americans’ struggles to survive did not end until WWII, FDR’s New Deal offered Americans the aid that President Hoover failed to provide. Images speak louder than words, and the following pictures demonstrate the neglect that Americans experienced and felt during Hoover’s presidency.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia, Herbert Hoover
In 1928, Americans elected Herbert Hoover as the 31st President of the United States. Hoover’s election came at a time when Americans witnessed a period of economic boom, higher wages and soaring business profits. President Hoover was to continue America’s economic prosperity; however, soon after Hoover took office the period of the Roaring Twenties would come to an end, and the President’s choices would either bring the U.S back to that period or lead Americans to struggle for life. Read the rest of this entry »
March 7, 2007
Lower East Side Tenement Museum – Website Review
The goal of a public historian is to represent history to audiences outside of the academic arena through a variety of methods that allow the public to make their own interpretations of the past. For decades, public historians have provided their audience historical accessibility through museums, films, historic houses/sites and memorials. However, as useful as these mediums might be for providing history to the public, getting to these sites may prove difficult for a variety of people. Several factors affect the audiences’ decision to visit a museum or historical site. Therefore, for those who are unable to get to the site due to physical or financial complications, public historians have found a solution to provide these audiences access to the past.
The Internet has proven an extremely useful tool for public historians, since it helps bring history into people’s homes. Furthermore, the web allows the audience to share the same experience that people who are able to tour museums or historic sites face throughout their visit. Several museums as well as historic sites have developed websites where people are able to view exhibits, collections and shop at the online store. Some museums, like the Lower East Side Tenement Museum’s website highlighted in this review, include virtual tours that allow people to participate in the full museum experience. However, in order for this museum to succeed, it should offer the audience easy navigation, beneficial content, scholarship, great presentation and media. Read the rest of this entry »
February 21, 2007
St. Valentine’s Day on the Web: Commentary
I found that my search on the web for the history of Valentine’s Day was exactly as I had expected. Before surfing the webs resources on this topic, I had reminded myself that several of the sites would be commercial and unreliable sites. Most of the hits took me to websites created by amateurs, blogs as well as consumer websites developed by companies that wished to sell their Valentine’s Day products. Therefore, I found that the web was not very useful for people hoping to learn the true meaning behind Valentine’s Day. In addition, these websites made me realize that there is a lot of worthless information out there that misinforms surfers about many different topics. I felt that I could not trust the web since there are several website authors who write whatever they choose to, whether it be accurate facts or not. Overall, I felt that there were only limited resources on the web that could give me enough information about the history of St. Valentine’s. Read the rest of this entry »
The History of St. Valentine’s Day
Every year people of all ages come together in one day to celebrate their love to one another as well as the friendships that they have made throughout their lives. In most parts of the world, this day falls on February 14 and we have come to know this special date as St. Valentine’s Day or in Spanish, as El Día del Amor y Amistad (They Day for Love & Friendship). This day has a special meaning for each one of us, and we have all celebrated it in a unique manner. Couples commemorate this day by having nice romantic dinners, giving gifts to each other, buying red roses for their significant others and overall celebrating their love. Nevertheless, this day is not restricted solely to couples; in addition, it is a date that honors friendship and love between all people and all types of relationships. Furthermore, this day has become a tradition were each year people, send each other cards or Valentines, buy heart shaped chocolates, cookies and candies, and paint the atmosphere with red and pink hues.
Whether it is a day for families, friends, and couples, one thing for certain, is that, this date is all about spreading love. People go to great lengths to make this holiday special; however, what is it about his day that makes it worth celebrating? How did this tradition begin? Finally, what is the history of St. Valentine’s Day? Read the rest of this entry »
February 7, 2007
Approaching History on the Web
In the 21st century, the Internet has become a great tool of research for students, educators and all persons interested in learning about the topics that fascinate them the most. For those interested in learning about celebrities and the entertainment world, there are several web pages dedicated to a variety of artists and their works. The same goes for those interested in sports; were in this area, people can find in the Internet information about different teams, as well as pages focusing on individual players. In addition, one can find in the World Wide Web, pages that discuss several topics relating to the various disciplines, such as literature, mathematics, philosophy and history. People surf these websites to learn more about these topics, and to perform research for a school assignment, or for their own personal work. For those interested in learning about the past, the Internet provides several sites related to history. Nevertheless, people should not always rely on all of the history pages that are out there. However, that is not to say, that reliable pages on the topic of history do not exist within the World Wide Web. Read the rest of this entry »
January 31, 2007
Rough Riders: An American Saga of Guts and Glory
The Turner Network Television (TNT) has produced the original mini series Rough Riders. In the website of this show, one can find a brief yet satisfying history of the Spanish-American War. In addition, one finds that the site also provides a summary on the origins of Yellow Journalism and the role it played during the war. A link to a timeline of events prior, during and after the war is also provided for the viewers. Finally, a fun and detailed link on Rough Riders History can be found. This particular page has several other links to download fun facts and legends about Teddy’s Rough Riders. The website also offers information on the production of the miniseries. This is a useful site since it informs viewers of the history of the Spanish-American war. The website is also useful for others interested in learning about this period in American history.
A War in Perspective 1898-1998
The New York Public Library, created an exhibit to celebrate the Centennial of the Spanish-American War entitled, A War In Perspective 1898-1998. The website offers an introductory history and a timeline of the events that took place during the war. There are five parts to this exhibit detailing, the Antecedents, the Public Appeals, the Popular Participation, the Public Memories, and Historical Perspectives. The website also offers a link to the audiovisual components of the exhibition, such as films, music, and a slide show which are on loan from the Library of Congress’ Motion Picture Division. The website also provides links to suggested readings. This website is useful since it not only provides the history of the war, but it also provides a detailed explanation of the exhibition. This may be useful for history students, teachers and those individuals interested in museum studies. Although the website lacks in design, it is a very resourceful website for those interested in learning about the Spanish-American War.
The Spanish American War in Florida
The Historical Museum of Southern Florida, published a brief website on the Spanish-American War as it relates to Florida’s history. The website looks at four topics, Miami and the Spanish American War, The Resinking of the Maine, Cuba Libre, and the Spanish War. All of these topics have a detailed explanation on both the history of Miami during the war as well as life in the city during this period and how the citizens of Miami responded to the Spanish War. This website offers additional and a more centered history of Miami and the war than other sites on the Spanish-American War. In addition, it does not only offer the history of Florida and the war, but it also provides information on the first as well as the second sinking of the Maine. The website does fail to mention a broad history of the rest of the American nation during the Spanish American War. Nevertheless, this site is useful for students wanting to learn about the Maine and Miami.
The Spanish American War in Motion Pictures
The Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress, created a webpage that allows those interested in using visual material for presentations, research or part of class lecture; to have access to primary documents of the Spanish-American War by means of motion pictures. This site provides a link to a special presentation entitled, The Motion Picture Camera Goes to War: The Spanish American War and the Philippine Revolution. Here the visitor is allowed to look at original footage taken during this period. The site is useful for providing instructors and students with visual material of the period; however, the resolution of the film is not very clear because of the age of the film. In addition, the window for viewing the film is small so it even makes it harder to view the old film. Nevertheless, it is a good primary source and window to that period.
Surf the Past 
